Chapter in 30 Seconds
Shift the focus from who did it to what happened.
- Construct passive sentences using the verb 'to be' and past participles.
- Describe ongoing processes and historical events where the action is the star.
- Identify when to include the person performing the action using 'by'.
你将学到什么
Ever wonder how to talk about events or give credit for achievements without always focusing on who did it? This chapter unlocks the power of the passive voice, helping you share news and highlight actions with confidence. You'll soon be reporting like a pro!
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被动语态：基本构成 (be + 动词过去分词)掌握
be + V3就像换个视角看世界，让你更专业地描述 «动作本身» 或 «接收者»。 -
英语被动语态：事物发生变化（一般现在时被动语态）Shift focus to the action's recipient with the Present Simple Passive for clarity and formality.
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过去简单被动语态：它发生了什么？被动语态就像给动作的“承受者”打光，重点在于“发生了什么”，用
was/were加上 «V3» 就能轻松搞定。 -
被动语态：用 'by' 表明施动者在被动句里，如果你想给“幕后功臣”加个名，用
by + agent就行，简单又清晰。关键词：give credit,identify doer,passive voice。 -
何时使用被动语态（报告新闻和谣言）Use passive reporting to share info objectively, formally, or without taking credit/blame.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to transform active sentences into the basic passive form using 'be' + V3.
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2
By the end you will be able to describe daily routines and facts using the Present Simple Passive.
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3
By the end you will be able to narrate historical events or past actions using the Past Simple Passive.
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4
By the end you will be able to assign responsibility or credit in a passive sentence using the 'by' agent.
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5
By the end you will be able to use passive reporting structures to share news or common beliefs.
章节指南
Overview
Focusing on Actions with the Passive Voice,your guide to mastering a truly versatile aspect of B1 English grammar! Have you ever wanted to talk about an event or achievement without always having to say who was responsible? Perhaps you’ve read a news report and noticed how things are described in a very objective way.
be with a past participle (V3), you'll unlock the ability to describe what happens to things (Present Simple Passive) and what happened to things (Past Simple Passive). We’ll also explore how to still give credit with by when the doer is important, and how professional English uses the passive voice for reporting news and rumors. This will significantly improve your ability to communicate clearly and confidently, allowing you to sound more natural and professional in various situations.How This Grammar Works
The car is repairedor
The letter was written.
am/is/are + V3.The engine is checked annually.Here, the focus is on the engine and the regular action, not necessarily who checks it. When we talk about past actions where the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, we use the Past Simple Passive. This uses
was/were + V3.The ancient city was discovered in the desertfocuses on the city and the discovery, not who discovered it.
by by adding 'by' followed by the agent at the end of the sentence. The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vincistill highlights the painting first, but acknowledges the artist.
It is believed that...or
The new policy was announced yesterdayare perfect examples, focusing on the information itself rather than the speaker or announcer.
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Incorrect form of 'be' or forgetting it
- 1✗ Using the wrong past participle
- 1✗ Confusing active and passive when using 'by'
Real Conversations
Here’s how the passive voice sounds in everyday chats:
A
B
A
B
A
B
Quick FAQ
Why is English focusing on actions with the passive voice important for B1 learners?
It's crucial for understanding news, formal reports, and sounding more sophisticated. It allows you to describe situations where the action or result is more important than who did it, which is very common in English.
When should I definitely use by in a passive sentence?
Use by when the agent (the person or thing doing the action) is important or interesting to know, but you still want to keep the focus on the action or the recipient of the action. If the agent is unknown, unimportant, or obvious, you can omit by.
Can the passive voice be used in questions?
Absolutely! Just like active sentences, passive sentences can be turned into questions. For example:
Was the car repaired?or
Is the message understood?
How can I practice using the passive voice effectively?
Try describing processes (e.g.,
How coffee is made), summarizing news articles, or rewriting active sentences you find into passive ones. Listening to news broadcasts also helps you hear it naturally.
Cultural Context
Mistakes were madesounds more formal and less accusatory than
You made mistakes. In informal, everyday conversations, the active voice is generally preferred, as it’s more direct and personal.关键例句 (8)
The coffee is brewed fresh every morning.
Der Kaffee wird jeden Morgen frisch gebrüht.
英语被动语态：事物发生变化（一般现在时被动语态）`It is said that the new coffee shop has amazing lattes.`
Se dice que la nueva cafetería tiene lattes increíbles.
何时使用被动语态（报告新闻和谣言）技巧与窍门 (4)
一眼识别被动语态
The door is locked.就是这么简单！
The Zombie Test
盯紧 'Was/Were'
The letter was sent.
执行者很重要！
by + agent。比如： The cake was eaten by the dog.
核心词汇 (6)
Real-World Preview
The Art Gallery Tour
Review Summary
- Subject + to be + Past Participle (V3)
- am/is/are + V3
- was/were + V3
- ... + by + person
- It is + said/thought/reported + that...
常见错误
Many learners forget the verb 'to be'. You always need a form of 'be' (is, are, was, were) to make a passive sentence.
You must use the Past Participle (V3), not the Past Simple (V2). 'Wrote' is V2; 'written' is V3.
In English, we use 'by' to indicate the person who performed the action, not 'from' or 'of'.
本章规则 (5)
Next Steps
You've unlocked a major level of English fluency! Using the passive voice makes your writing sound sophisticated and objective. Keep practicing!
Read a short news article and highlight every passive sentence.
Describe how your favorite food is made using the Present Simple Passive.
快速练习 (10)
选择正确的句子：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 被动语态：用 'by' 表明施动者
Find and fix the mistake:
The thief is thought to escaped through the window.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 何时使用被动语态（报告新闻和谣言）
Find and fix the mistake:
The books is written by a famous author.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：事物发生变化（一般现在时被动语态）
It is _______ (believe) that the company will close next year.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 何时使用被动语态（报告新闻和谣言）
The old house ___ last year.
The old house 是单数，所以用 was。Demolished 是 demolish 的过去分词。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 过去简单被动语态：它发生了什么？
The mail ___ (deliver) every morning at 9 AM.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：事物发生变化（一般现在时被动语态）
The famous novel was written ___ an acclaimed author.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 被动语态：用 'by' 表明施动者
Which sentence is in the Present Simple Passive?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 英语被动语态：事物发生变化（一般现在时被动语态）
Find and fix the mistake:
The delicious pizza was eaten with my brother.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 被动语态：用 'by' 表明施动者
Find and fix the mistake:
The books was read by many students.
Books 是复数，所以我们需要用 were 而不是 was。frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 过去简单被动语态：它发生了什么？
Score: /10
常见问题 (6)
The book is read.
The window was broken.
by if the person doing the action adds important information. 'The book is written by Steve' is good. 'The room is cleaned by a cleaner' is redundant.is made of when you can still see the original material (e.g., 'The chair is made of wood'). Use is made from when the material has changed (e.g., 'Paper is made from wood').The car was repaired强调的是车修好了，而不是修理工。
The report was written。
